In the last two months, three Uruguayan patients have died in Montevideo from the now well known antibiotic-resistant bacteria, KPC. Bacteria with the Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemases (KPC) enzyme are extremely dangerous because they are able to inactivate antibiotics such as penicillin, cephalosporin, aztreonam and carbapenems. This bacterium spreads quickly and results in death in about 50% of the cases. KPC infections were first publicized in 2001 at a hospital in North Carolina and then in New York City in 2003. KPC has spread worldwide to Israel, France and China. In the last year, infections have been reported in Argentina, Brazil, Columbia and now Uruguay. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has officially issued a warning for all countries to avoid possible KPC outbreaks.
